Burned ground surrounds a sign welcoming visitors to Fort McMurray, Alberta, during a media tour Monday of the city.
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They’re reminded of the evacuation, the unknowns and coming back to a home ravaged by disaster.
Jonathan Hayward/AP A burned out auto and houses are viewed in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Fort McMurray, Alberta. They say they’re concerned because politicians promises to bail them out are the same ones they heard in the aftermath of the flood almost three years ago.
But it will be a long, hard slog, she said, noting that gas and water service, waste disposal, health care “and much more” still need to be reestablished.
That includes ensuring that infrastructure such as pipelines and electricity grids are still intact and making sure goods and materials can still be transported to and from oil facilities, the premier said.
Inside Fort McMurray, the raw cruelty that last week’s fire wielded, forcing 88,000 people to flee, is front and centre. Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said she was encouraged by how much of it escaped destruction, estimating nearly 90 per cent of its buildings were saved. A burned out auto and houses are viewed in the Beacon Hill neighborhood during a media tour of the fire-damaged city of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Monday, May 9, 2016.
Notley says production is expected to resume in the days ahead once “it is absolutely safe to do so for personnel as well as for the environment”. She got her first direct look at the devastation on Monday after cold temperatures and light rain had stabilized the massive wildfire to a point where officials could begin planning to get thousands of evacuated residents back.
“Safe restart is important to our company and staff to allow us to contribute to the recovery efforts of the Fort McMurray area”, Zoe Yujnovich, Shell executive vice-president for oilsands, said in a statement.
Fire Chief Darby Allen said the random homes that were saved were the result of hard work by firefighters.
“It definitely is a positive point for us, for sure”, said Alberta fire official Chad Morrison in a news briefing, when asked if the fight to contain the flames had a reached a turning point.
No deaths or injuries have been reported from the fire itself.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there is no need for Canada to accept worldwide assistance in fighting the fire because other Canadians provinces are helping enough.
“It was specific firefighter operations internally that stopped the spread of the fire”, he said.
Williams, the Suncor CEO, said no layoffs were planned and some employees were getting advances from companies. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
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A burned-out barbecue and swing stand Monday in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Fort McMurray, Alberta.
